“Stop to see how Joan Miró transforms the intimate bond of "Maternity" into a surreal, floating vision. This painting invites you to explore the subconscious mind through its dreamlike figures and symbolic connections.”
In "Maternity," Joan Miró conjures a dreamlike vision of motherhood, a hallmark of his surrealist period. The central figure, a mother, is composed of swirling, organic shapes and bold lines, her form almost dissolving into the surrounding space. A tiny, schematic child floats nearby, connected to her by a delicate thread, perhaps an umbilical cord or a symbolic bond. The background is a stark, almost empty canvas, drawing all attention to the floating figures and their ethereal connection. This work, created in 1924, reflects Miró's deep interest in the subconscious mind and his rejection of conventional painting, favoring a more personal, symbolic language. The simplified forms and vibrant yet limited color palette create a sense of intimacy and wonder, inviting viewers to contemplate the profound mystery of creation.
- Artist
- Joan Miró
- Date
- 1924
- Location
- National Galleries Scotland
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The mother's head, a simple circle with a single eye, suggests a primal awareness.
The tiny child, almost like a pictogram, hovers near the mother's chest.
Notice the delicate, almost invisible line connecting the mother and child.
The vibrant red sphere at the mother's side, a burst of energy in the composition.
1 more detail is waiting.
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Joan Miró
1893–1983 · SpainJoan Miró, the Catalan master, sought to 'assassinate painting' by creating a deeply personal, symbolic language that blended Surrealism with a childlike wonder.
Further Works by Miró
More works to explore
Beyond Miró: works from the same years.
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Lozenge Composition with Yellow, Black, Blue, Red, and Gray
Piet Mondrian · 1921 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Interior with painter
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1921 · Buchheim Museum of Imagination
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Memories of the Past
Ivan Puni · 1927 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
American Gothic
Okada Saburosuke · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Bull's Head
Mikhail Larionov · 1913 · Tretyakov Gallery
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Asiatic God
Paul Klee · 1924 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
The Three O'Clock Sitting
Henri Matisse · 1924 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Untitled (Birds)
Max Ernst · 1924 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
The Praying Jew
Marc Chagall · 1923 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
The Fiddler
Norman Rockwell · 1921 · Brandywine Museum of Art
Same era · 1900s–1930s
Abstraction: Background with Blue Cloudy Sky
Pablo Picasso · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1900s–1930s
American Gothic
Grant Wood · 1930 · Art Institute of Chicago



